VISAA Semifinals: Standouts from STAB’s 7-6 Win over Collegiate

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No. 3 seed St. Anne's Belfield managed to hold off No. 2 Collegiate in Richmond in a 7-6 defensive slugfest to advance to the VISAA finals after Collegiate ended its season in the first round last year. A pair of Air Force commits led each side with two goals in STAB's Forest Balette and the Cougars' Benjamin Heidt, but it was the goalies who stole the show as both sides struggled to create momentum on offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Ridge, which beat Episcopal 9-6, will be the Saints' opponent at home. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["20783"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":28343,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eFarnsworth was dominant in all stretches of the field on Thursday. The LSM caused four turnovers including a yard sale can opener check in the first quarter and scored off an outside rip. Farnsworth stayed on for a plethora of STAB's offensive sets as well as man-up, demonstrating elite stick skills and composure with a long pole. u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eHe managed to come out with nearly every 50/50 ground ball off the wings and was excellent at pushing transition as well as making himself open in the clearing game for his goalie. He'll be an underrated LSM prospect to monitor for the 2026 class. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["28499"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eRoberts was excellent on Tuesday, limiting Collegiate to just one goal by halftime. He showed great athleticism with a show-stopping diving save to the far post, which was the most impressive play I saw all day. He was consistent, calm and timely with his saves and stopped a bouncer from Air Force commit Ben Heidt on Collegiate's last possession to seal the win. I had no expectation for Roberts to win the goalie battle against Denver commit John Seevers, who was also excellent, but Roberts was even more impressive. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["15282"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":28352,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eMiller had one of the best performances I've seen from an SSDM all year, limiting Virginia commit [player_tooltip player_id='14536' first='Wes' last='Martin'] to just one shot on goal. Collegiate decided to let Miller shadow Martin and by the second half, STAB opted to dodge on an LSM rather than him because of his dominance. Miller is the only SSDM in Bucknell's 2024 class but has the skill set to carry that burden and the size to be ready as soon as he steps foot on campus. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["28501"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eSulanke is a natural LSM but bumped down to close defense for Collegiate and locked down the low wing. He might be a little undersized to play down low for the Black Knights but he won't let anyone tell him that. Sulanke was the most physical player on the field and put a few players on the ground in dramatic fashion. He had three caused turnovers including one with less than two minutes left that gave Collegiate possession down a goal with time expiring. u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eHe uses his lower center of gravity to his advantage and it's going to be interesting to see how he develops by the time he gets to West Point, but he has the play style fit for a Black Knight.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6647b0fcbb099"} /-->